Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 2
Śuka’s Origin, Mastery of Śāstra, and Testing at Janaka’s Court
शुकोत्पत्तिं समाचक्ष्व विस्तरेण महामते । सनंदन उवाच । मेरुश्रृङ्गे किल पुरा कर्णिकारवनायते ॥ २ ॥
śukotpattiṃ samācakṣva vistareṇa mahāmate | sanaṃdana uvāca | meruśrṛṅge kila purā karṇikāravanāyate || 2 ||
«Ô grand sage, explique-moi en détail l’origine de Śuka.» Sanandana dit : «Autrefois, sur le sommet du mont Meru, s’étendait une forêt de karṇikāra.»
Sanandana
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It formally opens the Śukotpatti narrative, framing liberation-oriented teaching (mokṣa-dharma) through a sacred setting (Meru) and a rishi dialogue, signaling that the forthcoming story is meant for inner understanding rather than mere history.
This particular verse is a narrative prelude and does not yet teach bhakti directly; it sets up the context in which Śuka’s life and qualities—often used to illustrate renunciation and God-centered realization—will be explained.
No explicit Vedāṅga instruction appears in this verse; it functions as an itihāsa-style introduction (place, time, speaker) that prepares for doctrinal teaching later in the chapter.